Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Suicide in mental health in-patients and within 3 months of discharge: national clinical survey
- Authors:
- MEEHAN Janet, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), February 2006, pp.129-134.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Background Suicide prevention is a health service priority. Suicide risk may be greatest during psychiatric in-patient admission and following discharge. This study aimed to describe the social and clinical characteristics of a comprehensive sample of in-patient and post-discharge cases of suicide. A national clinical survey based on a 4-year (1996–2000) sample of 4,859 cases of suicide in England and Wales who had been in recent contact with mental health services. There were 754 (16%) current in-patients and a further 1100 (23%) had been discharged from psychiatric in-patient care less than 3 months before death. Nearly a quarter of the in-patient deaths occurred within the first 7 days of admission; 236 (31%) occurred on the ward, the majority by hanging. Post-discharge suicide was most frequent in the first 2 weeks after leaving hospital; the highest number occurred on the first day. It is concluded that suicide might be prevented among in-patients by improving ward design and removing fixtures that can be used in hanging. Prevention of suicide after discharge requires early community follow-up and closer supervision of high-risk patients.
Suicide within 12 months of mental health service contact in different age and diagnostic groups: national clinical survey
- Authors:
- HUNT Isabelle, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), February 2006, pp.135-142.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Background Suicide prevention is a health service priority but the most effective approaches to prevention may differ between different patient groups. This study aimed to describe social and clinical characteristics in cases of suicide from different age and diagnostic groups. A national clinical survey of a 4-year (1996–2000) sample of 4,859 cases of suicide in England and Wales where there had been recent contact with mental health services. Deaths of young patients were characterised by jumping from a height or in front of a vehicle, schizophrenia, personality disorder, unemployment and substance misuse. In older patients, drowning, depression, living alone, physical illness, recent bereavement and suicide pacts were more common. People with schizophrenia were often in-patients and died by violent means. About a third of people with depressive disorder died within a year of illness onset. Those with substance dependence or personality disorder had high rates of disengagement from services. Prevention measures likely to benefit young people include targeting schizophrenia, dual diagnosis and loss of service contact; those aimed at depression, isolation and physical ill-health should have more effect on elderly people.
Factors influencing help seeking in mentally distressed young adults: a cross-sectional survey
- Authors:
- BIDDLE Lucy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of General Practice, 54(501), April 2004, pp.248-253.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of General Practitioners
A questionnaire was sent to a sample of 3004 young adults aged 16-24 years. This assessed probably mental disorder, suicidal thoughts, and help-seeking behaviours. Results found most respondents who were assessed as having probably mental disorders had not sought help. Help seeking was more common in female cases than male cases. Recent experiences of suicidal thoughts appeared to be the stronger predictor of formal help seeking in mentally distressed women than mentally distressed men. Concludes that mentally distressed young adults are reluctant to seek help. Men are particularly unlikely to do so unless severely distressed and tend not to seek lay support.
Suicide by prisoners: national clinical survey
- Authors:
- SHAW Jenny, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 184(3), March 2004, pp.263-267.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The number of suicides in prison has increased over recent years. This is the first study to describe the clinical care of a national sample of prison suicides. A national clinical survey based on a 2-year sample of self-inflicted deaths in prisoners. Detailed clinical and social information was collected from prison governors and prison health care staff. There were 172 self-inflicted deaths: 85 (49%; 95% CI 42-57) were of prisoners on remand; 55 (32%; 95% CI 25-39) occurred within 7 days of reception into prison. The commonest method was hanging or self-strangulation (92%; 95% CI 88-96). A total of 110 (72%; 95% CI 65-79) had a history of mental disorder. The commonest primary diagnosis was drug dependence (39, 27%; 95% CI 20-35). Eighty-nine (57%; 95% CI 49-64) had symptoms suggestive of mental disorder at reception into prison. Suicide prevention measures should be concentrated in the period immediately following reception into prison. Because hanging is the commonest method of suicide, removal of potential ligature points from cells should be a priority.
Suicide and internalised relationships: a study from the perspective of psychotherapists working with suicidal patients
- Author:
- RICHARDS Barbara M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 27(1), February 1999, pp.85-98.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
A study was conducted into the personal meanings of suicide. It is recognised that early experiences of relationships can have a bearing upon a later tendency towards suicide. This project investigated the representations which these relationships take on within the person's inner world and their effect upon the person's behaviour. One hundred psychotherapists were surveyed, by means of a postal questionnaire, regarding their work with suicidal patients. Discusses the main themes that emerged from the research.
One hundred cases of attempted suicide in the elderly
- Authors:
- HEPPLE Jason, QUINTON Catherine
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, July 1997, pp.42-46.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Despite the high suicide rate in the elderly, there is a relative lack of information on the longer-term outcome of elderly people who have attempted suicide, particularly their psychiatric and physical morbidity and mortality. Looks at comprehensive demographic and psychiatric data available on consecutive referrals to a liaison psychiatric service of patients over 65 years of age who attempted suicide between 1989 and 1992. Detailed follow-up in 1994 included the interviewing of survivors using GMS-AGECAT. Concludes that elderly people who attempt suicide have a high mortality both from completed suicide and death from other causes. Those at risk of further self-harm are likely to be in contact with psychiatric services and to be suffering from persistent depression.
School survey highlights teenage problem areas
- Author:
- BOWEN Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 12.3.97, 1997, pp.54-55.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
The 'Health of the Nation' highlights the need to reduce suicide rates among young people. Reports on a multidisciplinary group which sought to promote mental health by beginning with young people's own concerns.
It's a street crime
- Author:
- HIRST Judy
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 25.1.96, 1996, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Homeless people are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems of all kinds. Findings from a three-year study funded jointly by the Department of Health and the Mental Health Foundation show that one fifth of young homeless people have attempted suicide in the past year, and a third have made an attempt at some point in their lives.
The mental health children and parents in Northern Ireland: results of the Youth Wellbeing Prevalence Survey
- Authors:
- BUNTING Lisa, et al
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Health and Social Care Board
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 147
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
Findings from the Youth Wellbeing NI Survey, which provides estimates of rates of a range of mental health problems based on a representative sample of children and young people and their parents. This study provides data on more than 3,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland, and on more than 2,800 parents and caregivers. The report focuses on emotional and behavioural problems; oppositional defiant and conduct disorders; mood and anxiety disorders; stress related disorders; young people at risk of other mental health problems; behaviours and experiences; parental mental health; and predicting mental health problems. A significant proportion of children and young people in Northern Ireland experience mental health problems, including diagnosable mental health conditions. The data reveals that one in eight children and young people (12.6%) had an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression. The most commonly reported traumas by adolescents were witnessing violence (17.0%), having a serious accident (16.8%), and sudden death of a loved one (10.7%). The prevalence of any stress related disorder was 4.9%, for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) it was 1.5%, and for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) it was 3.4%. Almost one in ten (9.4%) 11-19 year olds reported self-injurious behaviour and close to one in eight (12.1%) reporting thinking about or attempting suicide. (Edited publisher abstract)
A prevalence study of suicide ideation among older adults in Hong Kong SAR
- Authors:
- YIP Paul S. F., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(11), November 2003, pp.1056-1062.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The objective of this paper is to ascertain estimates of the prevalence, and associated risk factors for, suicidal ideation among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. The study was conducted as part of the General Household Survey (GHS), using face to face interviews of ethnic Chinese people aged 60 or above living in the community. Elders living in institutions or elderly homes were excluded from the study. Six percent of the sample was found to have ever had suicide ideation. The results showed that poor physical health, including poor vision, hearing problems, and a greater number of diseases; and poor mental health, especially in the form of depression, are predictors of suicidal ideation in the elderly population. Also, statistical analysis by linking individual factors to depression showed that financial and relationship problems are significant risk factors as well. Older adults who engaged in active coping, that is, those who actively seek to manage or control the negative events in their lives, fare better with lower levels of suicidal ideation than those who use passive coping styles. The prevalence of suicidal ideation is similar among elders in Hong Kong and western countries. Factors that contribute to risk for suicidal ideation span physical and mental health, social, and psychological domains. Although the association of suicidal ideation to self-destructive acts remains to be determined, these findings indicate a variety of potential foci for late life suicide prevention efforts.